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Some essential winter viewing.

Yes, it’s that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the mornings are colder and anyone who’s lucky enough to have an open fire is cranking that bad boy up. Winter is here, to quote Game of Thrones. You’re probably already coming home to a cold house, unless you’re lucky enough to have a Hive wireless product to warm the place up while you’re on your way home. It lets you remotely fire up your heating from your phone, tablet or laptop. Snazzy, eh? With the year drawing to a close, it seemed like a perfect time to pick out the best winter films to watch. We’re not talking about Christmas films here. We’re talking about the best films to watch when you really want to appreciate being tucked up and cosy in the comfort of your home. Here are a few of JOE’s favourites.

1. The Revenant (2015)

Alejandro G. Inarritu’s film is a visceral exploration of endurance in an inhospitable land. Leonardo DiCaprio finally earned his Oscar by testing the limits of how much snow and ice an A-List actor can crawl through without getting hypothermia. Few films will make you appreciate home comforts as much as this one. Oh and there’s a notable cameo from a grouchy bear.

2. Alive (1993)

Based on the true story of a Uruguayan rugby club who crash into the Andes mountains, Alive is not for the squeamish. It’s a harrowing tale of what happens when people are driven to the edge in their efforts to survive. Let’s just say that you’ll be grateful for that bowl of popcorn when you see what these poor souls had to go through.

3. 30 Days of Night (2007)

This comic book adaptation uses the unending darkness of an Alaskan winter as the premise for a refreshingly original vampire flick that will make you forget all that Twilight nonsense. A remote town gets ready for its annual month of darkness, only to discover that Seasonal Affective Disorder is the least of their worries. It’s a novel concept, a schlocky bit of fun, and a film that makes you thankful for those few hours of daylight in the Irish winter.

4. The Grey (2012)

Liam Neeson is a grizzled hunter leading a group of plane crash survivors through the Alaskan wilderness. As if that wasn't enough, there's the small matter of a pack of hungry wolves to handle. Neeson versus wolves. It’s the best film that you never knew you needed in your life.

5. Misery (1990)

With the Stephen King revival in full swing, it’s a good time to revisit this early hit by the horror master. Winter provides an oppressive backdrop to a story that hammers home why the kindness of strangers is not always a good thing. James Caan stars as a novelist whose situation causes him to seriously weigh up the pros and cons of freezing to death.

6. Snowpiercer (2013)

This dystopian tale from director Joon-ho Bong is set on a train that’s doing endless laps of a future world that's now covered in snow. The rigid class system on the train means that life is far from sunshine and lollipops for many of the passengers. This under-the-radar tale is a dark and original film that’s well worth digging out.

7. Fargo (1996)

Long before the critically-acclaimed series, this Coen Brothers film introduced a peculiar world of deadbeats, weirdos and unlikely heroes. Set in the snowbound Midwest, it’s an unconventional film noir. The unending snowdrifts are a fitting metaphor for the hidden secrets that lie beneath a frigid surface. It also gets bonus points for the crazy accents.

8. The Shining (1980)

Do you ever get cabin fever while taking refuge from the Irish winter? Well, there’s always The Shining to put things in context. Stanley Kubrick’s tale of a writer (Jack Nicholson) who drags his family to an empty hotel in the frozen backwoods is a timeless horror classic. Haunted house or just spending too much time indoors? You decide.

9. Everest

The true story of an ill-fated expedition in 1996 makes it pretty clear that everything on Earth's highest mountain wants to kill you. It's not just the weather - it's everything from a cough to your fellow climbers to sheer bad luck. Everest is a brutal reminder that this is no place for misplaced heroics or a lapse in concentration. Now that you have the film picked, simply dim the lights, dial up the heating and curl up from the comfort of your couch - all with Hive, in partnership with Bord Gáis Energy. Hive is so simple to use and allows you to control your heating, hot water and lights anywhere from your smartphone. Find out more about all the nifty smart home products they offer for your home here. Brought to you by Bord Gáis Energy.